Jackie Robinson and the 10 Greatest Sports Legends Ever

Jackie Robinson and the 10 Greatest Sports Legends of All Time

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For the sixth consecutive season, all MLB players are going to wear No. 42 on April 15 in honor of Jackie Robinson. The man who broke the color barrier remains one of the most recognizable athletes ever, but Robinson is not alone in being a legendary figure, Here are the 10 greatest sports legends of all time.

10. Jack Nicklaus

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10. Jack Nicklaus

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Jack Nicklaus holds the record of 18 wins at and 19 second-place finishes at majors, and ranks third in PGA Tour history with 73 victories.

9. Richard Petty

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9. Richard Petty

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It is hard not to be a legendary figure when your nickname is "The King", and Richard Petty lives up to the title. Petty won the Daytona 500 seven times, the NASCAR Championship series seven times and compiled 200 career victories. Without Petty, NASCAR wouldn't be a billion-dollar entity today.

8. Michael Phelps

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8. Michael Phelps

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Michael Phelps made Olympic swimming a must-watch event, and after winning a record 18 gold medals, it is clear that he dominated the sport.

7. Joe Montana

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7. Joe Montana

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There is no NFL player that maintains as legendary of a status as Joe Montana, who won the Super Bowl four times and is the only player to win the Super Bowl MVP three times.

6. Hank Aaron

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6. Hank Aaron

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Baseball is a sport that is built on numbers, and Hank Aaron is nearly impossible to beat. Aaron compiled 3,771 career hits and a then-MLB record 755 home runs, and many still believe that he is the rightful home run king.

5. Wayne Gretzky

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5. Wayne Gretzky

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Wayne Gretzky holds nearly every individual record that a hockey player could want, and there is simply no denying he is the best hockey player ever.

4. Pele

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4. Pele

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Pele is widely considered the best soccer player ever, and his three World Cup wins and 1,281 career goals only helps his case.

3. Michael Jordan

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3. Michael Jordan

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LeBron James may approach Michael Jordan as the greatest basketball player ever one day, but he will never reach his legendary status. Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to three championships in a row twice, was the leader of the famed Dream Team, and is the face of Jordan shoes.

2. Muhammad Ali

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2. Muhammad Ali

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Muhammad Ali is the most dominant heavyweight fighter ever, but his dominance really transcended his career. Ali was never afraid to stand up to authority, carried a loveable arrogance, fought against what he saw was wrong with the world, and was eventually named the sportsman of the 20th century by Sports Illustrated.

1. Babe Ruth

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1. Babe Ruth

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Babe Ruth was the original American sports hero. He turned from a great pitcher with the Boston Red Sox to legendary slugger with the New York Yankees, finishing his career in 1935 with 714 blasts. Ruth became a figure too big to put into words, and e continues to be one of the most recognizable names in the world even today.